When managers Mick McCarthy and Steve Kean appeared in the media room at one of English football's grand old clubs in the aftermath of Blackburn's 3-2 victory, they looked as though they had been to hell and back.

Wolves and Blackburn fans are united in their Premier League survival celebrations

"Emotionally I've been through the wringer," said McCarthy, who had to watch on helplessly during a second half in which his Wolves side were in and out of the relegation zone so many times because of events at Molineux and elsewhere that at one stage the fans had to remind their team what they needed to do to survive.

"I'm sick of permutations," he spat, unable to hide his disdain at not being able to focus solely on his side's performance. "I knew they'd matter, of course. But the excitement generated by five teams being in the scrap at the bottom on the final day is outrageous, really."

Outrageous is a perfect way to sum up the sequence of events that unfolded on Sunday. Going into the game 15th (Blackburn) and 16th (Wolves) in the table, both sides knew that a win would keep them up, but that any other result meant they were relying on other teams to do them a favour.

Blackburn started like a train, hitting their hosts on the break with speed and guile as strikers Jason Roberts and Junior Hoilett caused panic in the Wolves' rearguard. McCarthy's men had no answer - by half-time Roberts, Brett Emerton and Hoilett had given Rovers a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead and all but secured their safety.

"It's been a bumpy ride, the last six months, but that first half is the best 45 minutes we have put together this season," said a relieved Kean, who took over from the sacked Sam Allardyce in December when Blackburn were 13th in the table and led them to a 15th-placed finish, four points above the drop zone in the final analysis.

But at half-time, with Blackpool surprisingly holding Manchester United at Old Trafford and Birmingham level away at Spurs, Wolves were the bottom three. "We knew that wouldn't help us, it wasn't a good thing for us," said Kean. "We knew they would throw caution to the wind."

So what, with his side 3-0 down at home to a fellow bottom six club, did McCarthy say to inspire his troops? Surprisngly, perhaps, he chose a low-key approach.

"There weren't a whole load of expletives, no," revealed McCarthy. "There was no point, because the lads were on their knees. It was more a case of encouraging. We had to pass it better, deal with balls into the box, just play better really.

"I told them to go and score one goal, because that might be the goal that keeps us up. And if you score one, go and get another, cos that might help too. We knew goal difference could be the deciding factor. They responded."

And how they responded. Wolves threw on striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for defender Michael Mancienne and after Stephen Hunt headed a gilt-edged chance wide, Ebanks-Blake fired off target from 20 yards.

The hosts were handed a lifeline by keeper Wayne Hennessey's brilliant low save to deny Hoilett after Kevin Foley's slip but as the Blackburn supporters partied like it was 1995, some Wolves fans could hardly watch, choosing instead to check their phones or listen to the radio as results filtered through from other grounds; results that were having a defining impact on their status as a Premier League club.

Spurs went in front against Birmingham, which meant Wolves were momentarily out of danger; Blackpool took a shock lead at the champions, but they were quickly pegged back. As news continued to filter through, McCarthy was constantly being kept abreast of the situation.

"Someone on the bench was giving me pieces of paper," said the former Republic of Ireland manager. "They either read 'We're down' or 'Happy days'. The message was clear."

When Jamie O'Hara's clever free-kick pulled Wolves back to 3-1 it changed nothing, but within five minutes huge goals in other games threatened disastrous consequences. Wigan took the lead at Stoke and then west Midlands rivals Birmingham, unthinkably, equalised at Tottenham.

An eerie silence descended on Molineux. With 15 minutes left of a captivating Premier League season, Wolves were going down, poised to return to the Championship along with already relegated West Ham and Blackpool, now losing 4-2 at Man United.

Their cause seemed lost. But a few people, somewhere high up in the Steve Bull Stand, had realised what Wolves needed to do, and started getting their message across through song. It was a matter of seconds before the majority of the 29,009 present were singing "One goal, we only need one goal," a revelation that looked as though it had been lost on the players on the pitch.

It was true. If Wolves could manage just one more goal in the handful of minutes remaining, even though it would mean losing the game 3-2, it would keep them up at the expense of Birmingham on the basis of goals scored.

As the clock ticked down the home fans bayed for the goal that would bring salvation, and when it came their delirium was a sight to behold. Hennessey's long punt downfield was flicked on by Steven Fletcher and Stephen Hunt, cutting in from the right, unleashed a left-foot thunderbolt that flew into the far corner from 18 yards and left Paul Robinson flapping at thin air.

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It was joy unconfined for the Molineux masses as men, women and children hugged each other and wept openly in the aisles. It was no place for a neutral, though those few of us present should feel lucky to have witnessed such unbridled glee.

With both teams safe, there was a brief lull as neither side volunteered an attack. "Mick gave me a look at 3-2 and I knew we were both OK," said Kean after. McCarthy told it slightly differently: "I gave him the spaniel eyes. We'd had a ding-dong battle for 92 minutes, so I think you can forgive us the finish."

A Birmingham goal at White Hart Lane could still gatecrash Wolves' party, but when it emerged Spurs had won the match 2-1 in injury time there was no longer any doubt about the outcome: Wolves, in the most incredible fashion, and Blackburn, had both survived.

Fans raced on to the pitch from every angle despite unrealistic PA announcements urging them to keep off. Eventually, after drinking every last drop of delight, they made their retreat, as first Blackburn and then Wolves were afforded a celebration in front of their own sets of supporters, a spectacle that would seem foreign on any other day but chimed in perfectly with proceedings on this most maverick of occasions.

Kean's thoughts in the news conference soon turned to next season, of how Blackburn's rich Indian owners could make a "significant investment" in the team and how it is now an "exciting time for the club".

His opposite number McCarthy, weary and almost demob happy, had no such thoughts for the future. "What will I do tonight? I might stay sober actually, just so I can remember the feeling. Then again, I might not. I'll sit on the sofa and have a bottle of beer and I'll enjoy what we've achieved."

McCarthy might not want to even think about football in the next couple of weeks, but for a cast of thousands at Molineux on a magical May day, it was a rich reminder of why we continue to live in thrall of the most beautiful game of all.

Comment number 3.

@1 "very very very lucky"Get a grip mate, Mick is a great manager and took some massive points this season (beating Man U, Chelsea etc) That's not luck. All he needs to do is get the points from the so called smaller clubs and Wolves will be fine. Im thrilled for Wolves as im a big fan of Mick's no nonsense style!

Comment number 4.

I'm pleased that Wolves stayed up they are a very well supported team, pity that the PL has lost two other well supported teams in Birmingham and West Ham though. Their squad needs a lot of work during the summer though as the three teams who went down this season (along with Blackburn and Wigan) have been awful and that has been Mick's saving grace - don't think he'll be so lucky next year.

Comment number 7.

@ M0rning_Star It IS luck. Mick's players got those results in spite of him, not because of him. He's been winging it for the past 10 years, with an appalling lack of professionalism. Chairmen and fans are easily swayed by the media's liking of his "no-nonsense style".

Comment number 8.

although i think mcleish is a good manager birminghams problem has been clear to see for the last few seasons . they just dont score any goals and even though they have a pretty good back four, as the old saying goes " goals win games".johnson and ridgewell are too good for the championship and will surely leave

Comment number 9.

@stopthepress. Winging it for 10 years? Promotion with Sunderland (record points), Promotion with Wolves- entering his 3rd Premier season- taking Ireland to the World Cup and doing well despite Keane leaving.

Perhaps you should watch some football if you want to join in conversations.

Comment number 10.

"the three teams who went down this season (along with Blackburn and Wigan) have been awful "

If you take West Ham out of it the points that Birmingham and Blackpool amassed would have been enough to stay up most other season. 31 points was enough for safety last year, this year 40 was only just enough to survive. Surely that indicates that the lesser clubs have been better this season, they must have done to have picked up more points. So yes while they have been the worst teams in the league (the table doesn't lie), calling them awful seems harsh to say the least. Blackpool beat some of the bigger teams and had they had a bit more of the rub of the green they may have stayed up. And don't forget Birmingham won the League Cup earlier, yes they were fortunate in their winning goal but you can't say they fluked winning the whole competition.

Comment number 11.

I'm pleased that Wolves stayed up they are a very well supported team, pity that the PL has lost two other well supported teams in Birmingham and West Ham though. Their squad needs a lot of work during the summer though as the three teams who went down this season (along with Blackburn and Wigan) have been awful and that has been Mick's saving grace - don't think he'll be so lucky next year.

Not sure what season you've been watching. There weren't any 'awful' teams this year, which is precisely why we had such an exciting conclusion.

Comment number 13.

7.At 10:10 23rd May 2011, stopthepress wrote: @ M0rning_Star It IS luck. Mick's players got those results in spite of him, not because of him. He's been winging it for the past 10 years, with an appalling lack of professionalism. Chairmen and fans are easily swayed by the media's liking of his "no-nonsense style".

Keane's issue regarding Saipan was that he felt the Irish FA had not provided the team with adequate facilities. He saw McCarthy as tolerating an amateur attitude from the Irish FA and setting the bar too low in terms of targets. Keane's main issue was with the FAI, his personal rant at McCarthy was him letting off steam over his frustration regarding this. I don't think it's a true reflection of McCarthy's abilities in club management at all- and would you really trust Roy Keane's judgment on anything managerial-related? He's hardly done a great job of it himself.

Comment number 16.

In the Premier League, there are 6 clubs that aim to raise the levels of the game and keep promoting the English football worldwide. There are also a few teams that stay in the League, trying to improve at the same time.

And we come to clubs like Wolves and Blackpool that reach the Premiership, get the benefits - based on the work of the top teams - and put the money in the bank, not improving a thing.

Blackpool have a £10m budget, Wolves have the second lowest budget in the Premiership and, if they drop to Championship, just like Blackpool did, they will be getting some £12m per year, for four years, in order to level their budget to Championship levels. What would be happening though is that the Premier League would be paying their full budget for four football seasons and they would keep putting profits that they don't deserve - and artificially gained - in the bank

Is someone taking the mickey, using the success teams bring into English football for profiteering purposes?

Is it McCarthy and Holloway who failed to retain Premiership status or is it two chairmen who keep cash unjustifiably allocated to them, keeping the silence of the lamps when it comes to investing, in order to participate honourably in one of the top leagues in the world?

I would welcome the day when the Premier League look into this and stop profiteering lowly chairmen making big bucks out of someone else's sweat. It's better to modify the TV cash allocation so that only teams that try to improve to be getting it. About time.

Comment number 17.

@Vox Populi but surely that's the point, if McCarthy "tolerated an amateur attitude". A "professional" manager wouldn't have tolerated it.

My main issue with McCarthy isn't to do with Ireland. It's to do with the fact that he uses "no-nonsense" as a justification for ignorance. I bet he tore strips off his players at half time, when it's his fault that they were so poorly prepared.

Comment number 18.

Didn't realise McCarthy polarised opinion so much. Guess if you look at the bare facts he's done a superb job at Wolves - improvement every year, even the last two if you take into account they got 38 points last season and 40 this time around.

Big question for him is whether he can take Wolves to the next level, ie what the likes of Stoke and Fulham have achieved. That's an even harder job, especially as the teams coming up from the Championship are unlikely to be walkovers next season.

Comment number 19.

stopthepress - He didn't tear strips off them at all, as it says in the piece. They were probably expecting something Churchillian and ended up getting Iain Duncan Smith. Seemed to do the trick, though. Just.

Comment number 22.

Football has a huge problem with debt. Many clubs have poor financial management, and 'gamble' on success. When that success doesn't arrive, their house of cards falls apart. Look at Pompey. Or any of the countless other examples in recent years.

Those who don't take these short term gambles, but instead work to gradually improve - even if this means a relegation or two along the way (that are not accompanied by financial meltdown) - are the clubs who will eventually have most success.

Comment number 24.

dream scenario would have been to relegate Stoke, Birmingham and Wolves AKA the rugby teams. the quicker these teams get out of our top league the quicker we can start feeling proud of English football once more.

Comment number 28.

@ Football UKSurely you would rather have your club running in profit to allow sensible levels of reinvestment... rather then pay ridiculous wages and have unrealistic success for a few years like leeds or portsmouth? Look where that got them.

Also to put wolves in the same boat as Blackpool is a bit of a joke, Blackpool came up saying that they were not going to try and invest in players , or pay anyone any more that 10k a week. Wolves have invested for example steven fletcher for around £7million and pay upwards of 40k a week. Wolves have the 12th highest average attendance this season (higher then your so called "improving clubs" like Bolton, Blackburn and Stoke), Blackpool have the lowest. Just because a team doesn't up and spend ridiculous money and pay ridiculous wages developing an unsustainable structure, doesn't mean they aren't trying to improve. A very ignorant comment there footballUK

Comment number 29.

I think Mick is great, and I'm a Wolves fan. I'm sure there are a few teams that wish their manager was so 'lucky' and 'winging it' so often. He's straight talking, not brash, and he's the sort of guy that I'd happily have a drink with. Wolves don't have a wealthy foreigner backing them with bottomless pockets, they do what they can with what they have.There are, I believe, large plans for development and expansion of Molineux to handle the expanding crowds and to invest their success. If you researched a little you'd find that. You might also find their improved youth and training facilities.Nothing fancy about team, manager or owner, just heart. Gotta love them, and Wolves fans do!Feel sorry for Blackpool though, they gave it their all.

You can also find easily other documents claiming that Wolves have £25m in the bank and, having the assurance of being paid for four years an amount close to £12m annually by the Premier League, they don't care one bit when it comes to whether they are relegated or not.

As for the English football and debt, if you research it a bit you will find that Premiership clubs are bathing in cash, year in - year out, while opportunist chairmen of clubs make a killing, with the Wolves chairman top of the tops there, at a time when the Blackpool chairman put the Blackpool cash allocation to the bank, not being bothered to even place under-soil heating at Bloomfield Road, thank you very much.

In the last 5 years, Wolves are 11th highest net spenders. Ahead of Manchester United. Perhaps it's time you started criticising their lack of ambition?

While you're at it, look into the amount that Wolves have recently spent developing their academy. And the amount they've committed to spend in a huge redevelopment of their stadium. Do some research on operating profits and EBITs too.

And give us some citation for "Premiership clubs are bathing in cash, year in - year out, while opportunist chairmen of clubs make a killing"

Comment number 33.

Rugby teams LOL, is a bit harsh. I personally don't like their style, but I think the more variety a League has the better. I'm more concerned about how negative those teams are, they need attackers. Oh, and the PL needs Mick =]

Comment number 35.

by sticking to a Limit this year Blackpool garantee they are in existence to try for promotion again next year.

If they had spent money they do not have on getting more expensive players on higher wages in they would now have to sell them to not be losing money.

when wolves make a profit it is not the chairman rolling in cash, the club is making sound financial decisions to do business based on the cash it has rather than on loans and debt. If they were in debt a large percentage of their money would go on servicing it rather than on players.

i bet you have an over draft and some credit cards! it is far more prudent to not spend money you do not have (leeds, portsmouth) and only spend what you can afford.

Comment number 36.

Wow, your take on Wolves' finances is nothing short of outstanding. So, a well-run club that improves the squad year on year with no debt so as not to jeopardise its future (see Leeds, Portsmouth) should it suffer relegation, is something to frown about?Oh, and the £25 million in the bank is our owner's Steve Morgan's, he put that in when as part of the agreement when he bought Wolves. The best bit though was the gem 'they don't care one bit when it comes to whether they are relegated or not' - priceless! Did you see the scenes at Molineux yesterday? The chairman was actually weeping with relief.

Comment number 38.

Some of the posts on here are baffling. Wolves are being sensible, as were Blackpool. This should be the model of all clubs who want to secure their future. As it is with Everton, Stoke as well as Wolves and Blackpool. Spending every penny you have to improve is fine as long you are in no danger of losing the Premierships stream of money. Liverpool, Untied, Chelsea and now City can afford to do this, it wouldn’t make any sense for others to try and emulate it.

Football_UK should take a long look at the countless chairman who lose money in Football rather than assuming the Wolves owner is only in it for the money. There are easier ways to make cash- with that type of investment, chuck it in a high savings account- little risk and guaranteed rewards.

Comment number 39.

Not really interested in your opinion. I have been a Wolves fan for over 20 years and experienced highs and lows with Wolves. I can honestly say that we have never had a harder working group of players and talented youngsters really enjoying playing for the club.

With a history of buying greedy over the hill "premier players" im glad we have looked to buy young protenders with a point to proove.

Also on the note of a so called greedy chairman. Read below.... We will not and have not become a selling side. (which most greedy chairman would capitalise from). We spent around 19million start of this Season to bring in some new players which was high amongst other premier leagur clubs.

We want a strong financial situation at the club and we want to ensure we build the club in the right manor not over night.

I speak for alot of fans when we say we are proud to have a English Chairman as opposed to a foriegn invester who doesn't care for the City or suporters.

If you read into Morgan abit more you will find he puts alot back in to Wolverhampton, its community, charities and investment will increase next year with Stadium plans and player investment.

As for Mick. He has acheived great things with Wolves. He took us over when we were languishing in the Championship with rubbish old players and built a very strong squad over the time he has been here. Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Henry, Milijas, Doyle, Fletcher, Hunt, Kightley, Hammil the list goes on.

Our bench at Sunderland was the strongest I can remember. JarvisEbanks-BlakeDoyleMilijas

And plenty of other young talent aswell with Hammil and Vokes.

Players never questions micks management or lack of opportunities. Players earn the right to play. Milijas had to work and train extra hard to play and he understand that this work ethic earns you a place on the pitch.

Its impossible to find a manager that everyone loves, but Mick has been a saviour to wolves and he needs the opportunity to take us to the next level. There are a lot of doom mongers at the Wolves. And mick does well to distant the players and himself from these so called fans.

Next season with a few solid signings, in defence and midfield. I don't see why we can't acheive a mid table finish and push on and develop a better squad.

We are only 7 points behind 11th place remember.

And the Blackburn game opitimised our spirit all season. Backs against the wall and we come out fighting and earned our survival not%

Comment number 40.

My understanding of economics is not on this agenda, besides I could pride myself for having a better than average understanding.

The point is though that I'm reading now and again, these days, a lot of alleged articles of a £25m profit at Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. This amount is ludicrous profits for a winning-nothing club, flirting with relegation season in, season out.

It doesn't require brains to realise that the Wolves chairman is using the Premier League in terms of cash gains. Have a nice day.

Comment number 41.

Can't believe people criticising Wolves and Blackpool for not throwing money on transfers and wages! Blackpool will probably make record profits for this season and if they're sensible they should use that money to pay off any debts, improve their stadium or facilities. That will be of far greater long term benefit for the club instead of bringing in some players on £40K/week! Wolves have also quite sensibly avoided the Portsmouth/Leeds tactic and are running the club within it's means. Think of the state Wolves were in 30 years ago with a derelict ground and compare that to the modern Molineux! Yes that means that they will always be among the relegation battlers and it's likely that sooner or later they'll get relegated but if you ask their fans I think you'll find that they'd prefer the club to be financially stable than to end up like Portsmouth!

Comment number 42.

@ 37 - no, when the chant started Birmingham were drawing 1-1 with Spurs so their GD was minus 20 at the time (they finished on minus 21 after losing 2-1). Wolves were 3-1 down so their GD was minus 21.

So Wolves were going down on goal difference at the time but one goal would (and did) save them on goals scored. Although ultimately Roman Pavlyuchenko ensured it didn't matter anyway...

Comment number 43.

It should be a rule of the Premier League that, at the end of a season, any club not at least £100m in the red and not having a sugar daddy of at least £10b wealth should be automatically relegated.

That should keep it as it should be, where all the clubs are rule sensibly, with a view to the true football competition - The Champions League (LASAGNE!).

Come to think of it, any team not capable of winning the above competition doesn't deserve to be in the Premier (Qualifying Round) League at all. No, wait, that would mean Chelsea would get kicked out!

Comment number 44.

I was happy to see West Ham and Birmingham go down and was hoping Blackburn would join them. This is nothing to do with their fans who have been excellent or really the style of football they play (although Birmingham have been negative) but more as a lesson to the owners who think they know how to run a football club.

Sullivan Gold and Brady @ West Ham, The Venkys at Blackburn and Carson Yeung at Birmingham care more about their own publicity than the clubs they own and the whole Premier League is a massive ego trip for them. They bought into the Premier League thinking it would be a cash cow for them and to raise their own profiles by piggy backing on the success of the league and seeing them getting their fingers burned brings a smile to my face!

This would also have rewarded some of the better owners (Steve Morgan, Dave Whelan) who stay in the background and run the clubs more in the interests of the fans and the football community.

Comment number 45.

well done Wolfs! ; ) Mick was right all along _ he said it would take till the very last game the very last goal the very last pointit was great to see him smiling so much after having got his crew over the linehave a great summer and all to do again in August _ looking forward to it!COME ON WOLVES!

Comment number 46.

I think you just have to take a look at Steve Morgan when the final whistle was blown to know just how much Wolves means to him. He was in tears. He's adopted this club with his heart and it really showed. I'm extremely chuffed that he is our chairman.

There's an amazing heart pulsating throughout the club and I'm so proud to be a Wolves fan.

This was a freak season and I'd be amazed if we see this again for the next few years at least. As long Wolves invest in a couple of experienced defenders we can definitely aspire to finishing mid table.

Staying up this season was mightly important. Wigan, Blackburn and Wolves have a chance to kick on, because when I look at who is coming up, it doesn't compare to the strength shown with when West Brom, Newcastle and Blackpool were promoted.

I feared this season but we did it.

Well done Mick. The best manager at Wolves in over 20 years. You've brought us success - three seasons in the best league in the world.

Comment number 47.

Can I also just add, we're not flirting with relegation season in, season out. This was only our 'second' season in the Premier League. And our second season is already being claimed by pundits as the toughest of all since the Premier League was created. A bit of perspective please!

Comment number 48.

#37, they were singing one more goal because if they only lost by 1 they would end up on the same goal difference as Birmingham. At the time their goal difference was worse off by 1. In the end it didn't matter because of Spurs winning but at the time it was relevent.

Comment number 49.

Honestly Football UK, your comment: "It's better to modify the TV cash allocation so that only teams that try to improve to be getting it. About time." will end up with only one scenario, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. In fact the poor won't just get poorer, they'll go out of business spending money they don't have to try and get a bigger share of the TV money. It's one of the most ridiculous ideas I've seen in a while, teams have earnt the right to be in the league, everyone contributes to the beauty of the league in their own way, they all should get a fair share of the pot. How they decided to then spend that money is up to them but they certainly shouldn't be penalised for being careful.

My message to you is steer clear of football ownership or you could end up upsetting a lot of fans!

Comment number 50.

Actually, I never wanted Wolves to go down to the Championship.Having said that, I did feel sick of Wolves fans' reactions on last season's Old Trafford match where they demanded more or less to decide who manager uses on the field because they bought a mere match-day ticket. I equally felt sick on the countless occasions when Wolves fans wanted McCarthy out.

And I've been following what goes at your club much before the McGee and Steve Bull years.

Still, the argument that you all fail to answer is: when a football club gains promotion in the Premiership, target #1 is to have a team able to confidently compete at this level and not make a killing. One thing is one and another thing is another.

Comment number 51.

"Still, the argument that you all fail to answer is: when a football club gains promotion in the Premiership, target #1 is to have a team able to confidently compete at this level and not make a killing."

You're wrong.

Target #1 is to avoid going into administration, and to guarantee the long term existence of your football club.

Comment number 52.

I was happy to see West Ham and Birmingham go down and was hoping Blackburn would join them. This is nothing to do with their fans who have been excellent or really the style of football they play (although Birmingham have been negative) but more as a lesson to the owners who think they know how to run a football club.

Sullivan Gold and Brady @ West Ham, The Venkys at Blackburn and Carson Yeung at Birmingham care more about their own publicity than the clubs they own and the whole Premier League is a massive ego trip for them. They bought into the Premier League thinking it would be a cash cow for them and to raise their own profiles by piggy backing on the success of the league and seeing them getting their fingers burned brings a smile to my face!

This would also have rewarded some of the better owners (Steve Morgan, Dave Whelan) who stay in the background and run the clubs more in the interests of the fans and the football community.

Comment number 53.

In response to the earlier posts about Wolves just taking the money and being 'happy to go down'. Just to remind people - Wolves have just put the first stage of a large stadium rebuild/extension through the planning process, and are about to start work on it. If that isn't investment, what is?

I will admit I would love to see more quality in the team to take it further, but the fact that the player policy for the last few years has largely been to buy from lower leagues and develop the players, rather than splashing large amounts of cash on aging known names is one of the reasons I love the team.

Comment number 56.

I can't understand how you are still arguing this. Are you saying that teams should just go for broke... invest everything they have in trying to buy a team, when there is a good chance they may go down again?

Growth has to be steady for these clubs coming from the championship, with perhaps the exception of QPR with their wealthy owners. Its about improving facilities e.g. wolves developing their ground over a three year process, its about putting in place the infrastructure to attract players to the club who will be able to take the club to the next level. At the moment clubs coming from the championship struggle to attract the big players and if you look at portsmouth as an example they ended up paying players like John Utaka 80k a week such was their gamble. Im glad wolves are choosing to build sensibly, i know they had a chance to sign james beattie but he was demanding 65k a week, and a number of other players that mick said were asking for silly wages.

Surely you cant be saying that is the way to run a club, spending beyond your means in a massive gamble that you will stay up??? All pundits made the point that if wolves had gone down they were in the best position of all to come straight back up again because of the way they had developed. I hope wolves push on next season and prove to other clubs that growth can be gradual and risk free and that to be a succesful club you either have to take silly risks or be owned by a multi-billionaire

Comment number 57.

I never suggested that clubs should go for broke in the Premiership.What I've seen is that both Blackpool and Wolves appear to be making big profits, besides the former not even placing under-soil heating while the latter tend to flirt with relegation as soon as they join the Premiership.

If, what I've read about improving your stadium is a priority in the Wolves agenda, it would be nice to see becoming a reality, as it would indicate that some serious investment is taking place.

Having listened to the Wolves Chief Executive interview in the radio though, earlier this morning, he gave no such hints.

What Wolves fans have to realise is that when someone points the finger on the chairman saying "you make profits on the back of other clubs without investing" doesn't necessarily mean malice towards your club.

Yet, if Wolves have a similar pattern next season, would you expect them to take so many points out of top sides? One great result wrong, this season and your club would be down. Yes, with lots of money in the bank. I'm wondering what you'd be saying then and what your response to your manager (whom I actually like as a manager) be.

Comment number 58.

@Football_UKI have read some of your comments and think that maybe you should change your name to KnownothingaboutFootball_UK.I would be interested to know if you support a football club and if you could tell me about their financial situation and whether you can justify their business plan and explain their long-term aims.

Comment number 59.

Phase one of the redevelopment is beginning now at the end of this season with the demolition of the North Stand, with the aim by the start of the 2014/15 season for capacity to have reached 36,000. I understand what you are saying that it may seem odd for the club to be making profits, and i would hope these are being invested back into the club but im not sure. However i am not aware that at any point has the money not been made available for mick to make the signings he wants, and personally as long as this remains the case then i couldnt care less how much profit was being made. And i think the premier league money structure is fair.... the better you do the more money you get, although even this is just making the rich clubs richer.

I agree that the team isnt perfect and that investments must be made over the summer, especially in the defence, but i think saying that one result could have changed it is true for many teams, what would have happened if chelsea had beaten united??

As for mick, i think if wolves had gone down then i would actually be more keen on keeping mick. He is an excellent championship manager, who gets clubs out the championship well, i am not yet convinced he is the real deal in the premier league, though you cant argue with the fact that fletcher's goals at the end of the season , and stephen hunt on the last day kept wolves up, both of whom were Mick's signings. It does worry me though that he is yet to sign on permanent a player who is with a premier league club, one that has not just been relegated that is, and i think that will have to change over the summer but he has done the job again this season

Comment number 61.

I wouldn't follow the same avenue recommending to you a ICantPlaceaLogicalArgumentForFootball_whatever because I can't be bothered.Still, I remember you if Wolves increase profits next season and your club goes down.

I follow Manchester United and I like a lot Stoke City and Port Vale.Any objections?

Comment number 62.

Comment number 63.

Blackpool supposedly received £90 million for winning the play offs. Reportdley they dont offer anyone more than £10,000 per week. Assuming Charlie Adam is their highest paid player therefore ( i'd be surprised if he isn't) he is earning less than £1 milllion a year.

Im sure Blackpool spent less than £20 million in the summer, and due to thier wage structure they probably pay out less than £15 million in wages. So wheres the rest of this so called £90 million?

The answer? Karl Oystens pockets. Im sure the same will happen with the parachute payments no doubt....

Comment number 64.

Football UK - where on Earth did you come up with Wolves making a £25m profit? For their last submitted accounts to year end May 2010, their profit was £9.1m . That came from an up-tick in revenue of almost £40m following promotion.

Here's some simple maths for you: if revenue increased by £40m and profits are only at £9m, there is a difference in £31m. Are you suggesting the Chairman "stole" that money? Or perhaps the correct answer is that it has been reinvested in the playing staff, back office facilities, training facilities, etc.

Your grasp of economics is in scope here as you brought all of this up and are being roundly condemned for spouting utterances without substance or basis.

Steve Morgan, along with the likes of Jeremy Peace at WBA, is one of the best Chairman in the country. He loves football, gives a huge amount back to the local community (even though he is a Liverpudlian and not local), and more than anything he believes in the financial fair play concept so much that he is trying to use Wolves as a benchmark. Yes, they may not win the Premiership, but then Man City have spent more than £600m and only finished 3rd. What most fans want to see is their club in financial security and enjoying premiership games week in week out.

They also need to know that being relegated doesn't mean administration.

Personally, I think your grasp of basic finance is poor and any claims you make to the contrary are easily discredited by a number of your posts, including making up profit numbers to support your spurious and dubious position.

Comment number 65.

I wouldn't follow the same avenue recommending to you a ICantPlaceaLogicalArgumentForFootball_whatever because I can't be bothered.Still, I remember you if Wolves increase profits next season and your club goes down.

I follow Manchester United and I like a lot Stoke City and Port Vale.Any objections?

That just shows you know nothing about football- you might as well say I follow Rangers and Celtic/ Spurs and Arsenal etc.

Comment number 67.

Fantastic day. Rovers were awesome first half, starting to think maybe Kean isn't a total clown after all. Was great to see both sets of supporters being so friendly at the end and I agree with the article what a great advert it was for English football.

As 95% of the posts in this seem to be discussing McCarthy, may as well give my opinion on him. A previous post highlighted Wolves net spend as being quite high the last few years, thats meaningless. The crucial statistic is their gross spend, which is very low. If McCarthy has little funds to buy players in the first place then it doesn't matter how much/little he makes selling them, his squad will never really improve.

Until he's given increased funds then his remit is to keep Wolves in the league each season, he promoted them and has now kept them up twice. He's a decent manager.

Comment number 68.

@Football_UKFirstly, Wolves are not my club, I'm an unbiased commentator on this subject. Secondly, no objections at all to the clubs you support.Thirdly, you have passed no comment on the financial machinations of Manchester United so I assume that you approve of the way a great club who had money in the bank and were profitable was bought (and loaded with debt) by a bunch of chancers - with no particular love of football - just out to make a quick buck.

Comment number 70.

I was sat at home yesterday with final score on and the MUFC vs Blackpool game on, and I enjoyed every moment of the coverage and the constant updates from both sources.

I didnt want Blackpool to go down, and as a United fan I was cheering the Blackpool goals as much as the United ones. They put up a really good fight. I would've prefered this match to be a title decider with Blackpool well clear of the relegation zone.

Football_UK said;

"It's better to modify the TV cash allocation so that only teams that try to improve to be getting it. About time."

I disagree with this statement. I am very happy that all the clubs get the same television money as they all compete in the same league. It allows for the lesser teams to improve, and catch up with the better teams. I don't want our league to turn out like Scotland or Spain where the top 2 get most of the money and the rest share the leftovers. Also the better teams already have the chance to earn more money through the Champions League.

Clubs that get into the Premier League have two choices normally, to spend big in the hope of having a better chance of survival or don't spend and try to survival anyway. Given the choice, I think it would probably be better investing the money in something more long-term like stadium expansion or the youth system.

Comment number 71.

I just want to say that although I wasn't at Molineux on Sunday I did experience a profound sense of humanity and humilty (two for the price of one) which even now, as I contemplate the epistemic implications of the end of the universe, expresses itself as brotherly love for each and everyone of you dear contributors to this manful but, truth be told, quite short blog. God bless.

Comment number 72.

dear football uk we in the russian mafia would, like out american comrades and affiliated despot dictatorship branch (middle eastern division) ,wish to take over any club we can state hand on heart we have followed since we were in the state owned nursery. OH how we love you collaterized loans and prime centre property locations. Any ideas who we can shower our love and money on?

Comment number 74.

Football UK. The £25m Wolves have in the bank is Steve Morgan's personal money. It was not made by Wolves.

On purchasing the club for £1, he was contractually obliged to invest £30m of his own money into the club. £25m of that remains, earmarked for things such as the stadium redevelopment. The first stage of which cost £14m and begind TODAY.

You said you want to see evidence of that happening? Turn on the Sports News channels and have a look at the diggers ripping out the seats!

Comment number 75.

@Vincent B Rodriguez You are obviously not a Wolves follower.Unfortunately Mick McCarthy does not get the best from his players.How can anyone say a manager is good, who sends out a team in Wolves's position yesterday that are so psychologically inept, they are 3 goals down in the 1st 45 minutes?Also last year we spent £18m on players. Stop the Press didn't need to read the article. Jonathon Stevenson doesn't question McCarthy's account of the half time talk. Maybe he is a liberal voter and believed Nick Clegg too!C'mon u Wolves!

Comment number 78.

I fail to see what you are arguing for. Is it that football clubs are not run on a financially sound footing and live within their means?

As for chairmen making a profit, as a Man U fan, what do you think Mr Glazer is in it for?

Personally, I was sorry that Blackpool went down yesterday, as most true football fans were. I have infinitely more respect for that club than any of the "Big Four", "Big Five" or whatever number the headline makers of the tabloids care to favour at the time.

Comment number 81.

I think some comments on here regarding Wolves finances are prime examples of how a little knowledge can be dangerous.

Steve Morgan paid £10 for the club. Along with that came a very complicated contract that took both parties months to agree upon and guaranteed amongst other things there would be a £30m investment into the club. £25m of this still shows as cash in bank on the balance sheet which I guess is underwriting the redevelopment plans. If the contract allowed, which I bet it doesn't, then if Morgan did take money out, it would only be the money he put in.

That said, it is a business and if it were to make money why shouldn't he take a return on his investment?

Comment number 82.

I take offence to the claim that we're a "rugby" team in all honesty! Just because we're not Arsenal or gung-ho like Blackpool doesn't mean we play hoofball. Our best players - the likes of Jarvis, Hunt and O' Hara - couldn't get into the game if we just punted it up to Fletch and Doyle all the time. Sure, there's been the odd moment of desperation (yesterday - never in doubt :P), but since when has getting the ball wide and getting crosses into the box been "hoofball"?

And to those who've said Mick can't manage; when he took over at Wolves, there were 16 players on the first team staff and we were tipped in some circles to go down. Three years later he'd won the Championship with a team of players assembled from clubs like Grays and Bournemouth, finishing above the likes of spenders like Birmingham, QPR and Reading. Two years later, we've stayed in the Prem in what's been regarded as the toughest season for many a year. We're in a position to push on now. The man's a Northern genius I tells ya...

Comment number 83.

The reason that we have £25 million sitting in the bank account is that Steve Morgan deposited £30 million there when he took over and has been running the club in a sensible fashion ever since. However we still spent £18 million pounds on plays last summer which was higher that 70% of clubs. He is clearly not profiteering from owning Wolves though and to say we don't contribute to the rich tapestry of the Premier League is laughable.

Comment number 84.

I thought it was pathetic the way the Wolves fans celebrated like they had just won the treble when the reality should have been to just acknowledge they were damn lucky to be still in this league, with survival down to other teams doing them a favour! It all reminded me of Phil Brown's Karaoke in 2009 and we all know what happened to Hull the following season! A bit of dignity can go a long way and make you look less silly later on!

Comment number 85.

84...we were where we were after 38 games so don't spout on about luck. It just happens that we lost our last game, as did Blackpool and Birmingham.

We beat Man Utd, Man City & Chelsea so I suppose you want to take those nine points of us as well do you?

Football UK You just had to be a Man Utd (sorry genuine ones) fan didn't you?

You spout on about improving the team, league etc., but then forget that you haven't always been the cream of the crop. The top boys already get more than their fair share by the number of times they appear on the box and the position they finish.

The problem with your analysis is that sooner or later, when the top boys have all of the money, the PL will become boring and the money wil dry up from Sky.

Don't you actually realise that the interest in the PL is so high because our 'little club' Wolves, could play your 'greatest team ever' Man Utd, and finish their unbeaten run to the season.

If you don't realise that the worldwide interest in the PL is generated because of the 'little clubs' and not the 'big clubs' then you really don't understand any of it.

Despite you I'll still be supporting them in the CL final because some of my family support them and all of the other genuine MU fans who actually understand how things work.

Comment number 86.

To answer the question from the Spurs fan earlier, O'Hara has been quality in most games for us since joining and sincerely hope we snap him up. I can understand why he didn't get into the Spurs side with all the quality midfielders there, but great for us. And hey, a goal at the Hawthornes. Not a bad way to introduce yourself.

Football UK, I'd be interested to know who you support because you're talking utter rubbish about my team who you clearly have no knowlege of

Comment number 87.

DRAMA. I loved every minute of it, granted, not the two I wanted to go down, but on the basis of the season - the table never lies. Building work to be done by Wigan/Blackburn/Wolves though, as I don't think QPR will hold back on spending and I think Reading/Swansea could fit in for at least a year.

Comment number 88.

84. The reason for the celebrations is that we were down with 5 minutes to go then somehow managed to stay up. I remember your lot going apes##t when you scored a last minute equaliser against Arsenal, it was only a draw. Its all relative to the situation. The emotion of the day led to unbridled joy and what a great day it was!

Comment number 90.

Is it just me or do your posts follow a similar trend? complete tripe, always off topic and really boring.

in response to your hollow and bitter message. birmingham have won one more trophy than arsenal over the last five years. wow, i solid 4th position this year with players like fabregas and nasri looking for a move. we beat you in the final, and you've had a poor season, again.

instead of focussing on our plight, why don't you keep an eye on your own. you'll be out of the top 5 next season.

Comment number 92.

The point is though that I'm reading now and again, these days, a lot of alleged articles of a £25m profit at Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. This amount is ludicrous profits for a winning-nothing club, flirting with relegation season in, season out.

========================================

I don't really get your argument here. You seem to be saying that Wolves/Blackpool should not be posting profits - rather, they should be spending all the money they get and be completely cost neutral each year, as otherwise either the Chairman is laughing all the way to the bank or the club is being financially mismanaged and racking up debt.

This seems like a particularly odd opinion to have. Making profits is a good thing, you know. As a previous poster has stated, if clubs like Wolves or Blackpool spend all their Premier League money when they come up, and then find themselves fighting relegation, they risk making a huge loss and endangering the club.

Blackpool, for example, can't suddenly magic up a higher capacity stadium over the summer. It takes time, so saving their money and posting profits now allows them to pull together the funds required to expand the stadium and make the changes that you seem to be complaining they don't have (such as under soil heating).

Comment number 93.

Comment number 94.

Kit, sorry, i only talk to premeir league teams fans. i dont talk to fans of semi pros.

hahahahahahahahaha, enjoy failure and misery brummies, all your best (ha) players are leaving, your manager has been found out to be alex fergusons little daughter and you will never be on match of the day again!!!!! Brilliant! if you see Barry ferguson, please ruffle his hair for me!

Comment number 95.

i mean, wal sol was off ranting the other week about nasty players on the football pitch, yet he's clearly influenced by those 'nasty' players himself. giving bitter, irrelevant, rich comments all the time

Comment number 97.

mate, i can accept that birmingham went down and in some respect deserved to go down. yeah i'm disappointed, but it's not the end of the world. enjoy next season yourself, making no signings, having a long slog qualifying for the champions league, and probably, ultimately failing in the league once again. whereas we'll bounce back, back to annoy you again

Comment number 99.

You wont bounce back anywhere, you will end up in league 2 in a few years! Ben Foster has already said he's leaving, Johnson has been looking for a move for about 4 months now and thats about it, without them you are conference standard!oh, and thanks, i certainly will enjoy champions league football! its what football is all about!

Comment number 100.

and dont you worry about my job fella, just worry that you wont have a football team to support next year when that owner of yours leaves and goes to buy pompy! a much better prospect than you. you only have about 10,000 fans. everyone in brum supports the mighty villa.

About this blog

Hi, I'm Jonathan Stevenson, but you might know me as Stevo from the live texts. I love football more than life itself, which is probably quite a lot to do with a Brian Clough-inspired upbringing. I even met him in his son's newsagents once. You can follow me on Twitter to boot.

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